Travel to Tanzania - the Paradise of East Africa

By Andrew Muigai

Wonderful parks, rich cultural heritage, captivating islands : welcome to Tanzania- a favourite destination that will leave you with long lasting memories. The people of this East African Country have no equal when it comes to hospitality. Amidst the mountains are forests with a rich biodiversity and home to thousands of bird species- whose daily tuneful melodies will enchant you while on vacation in this East African Heaven.

What Serengeti National Park is to Tanzania can only be compared to the importance of Kenya's Maasai Mara and Kruger National Park in South Africa. Home to over thirty-five species of plain thriving animals, the Serengeti spreads across an area of no less than fourteen thousand square Kilometres thus reaching all the way up to the Kenyan border. Animals found in this Park include lions, cheetahs, gazelles and the annually- migrating wildebeests that spectacularly do so between November and May.

Indeed the migration of the wildebeests was included among the Seven Wonders of the World and rightly so. The phenomenal and instantaneous exodus of the wildebeests in their thousands finds root in the quest for grazing land and a chance to mate. With Vicious Predators either laying in wait or in hot pursuit, the weak, the old and the too young stand very little chance of survival.

Another famous attraction is the Ngorongoro Conservation Area which rises high above the plains of the Serengeti. Ngorongoro spans from Lake Natron in the Northeast (the breeding ground for East Africa's flamingoes) to Lake Enaysi in the South and Lake Manyara in the East. The still active volcano Ol Doinyo Lengai meaning Mountain of God, and whose last major eruption was in 1983 rests on the Conservation area. A special place 610m deep, 20km in diameter and covering an area of 311sq km is at the focal point of the park. They call it the Ngorongoro Crater. It is a shelter to almost all the plains mammals except for the Impala, Topi and the Giraffe and has been said to have the densest population of predators in Africa. The endangered Black Rhino might be a good reason for you to take a hike in this area. The rich birdlife includes flamingoes which are attracted by the soda content in Lake Magadi on the crater floor.

Tanzania has many other amazing parks and it would be a great injustice if I didn't say something about Selous Game Reserve- the park that is bigger than the entire of Switzerland and covers more than a sixth of the area covered by Tanzania, making it one of the biggest parks in the world. In terms of wildlife, the Selous Game Drive which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site has many elephants and lions too not to mention many many other wild animals.

Other parks in Tanzania include Lake Manyara, Gombe National Park, Udzungura Mountains, the Island of Rubondo, the Mahale Mountains, Katavi, Ruaha, Tarangire, Mikumi National Park and Arusha National Park. For those who are lovers of Marine life, Tanzania has many Marine Parks including Kilwa Reserve, Latham Island Reserve, Tanga Coral Gardens and Rufigi Delta. Tanzania also has got a number of proposed national Parks that include Saadani and Kizulo Plateau. As you can see, the options are many and no matter what your choices are, a trip to Tanzania will be most rewarding.

And now, how can the end of this article be neared without mentioning the challenge-tossing Tanzanian Physical feature that has attracted lots of tourists every year in the quest to climb the highest mountain in Africa? Mount Kilimanjaro, resting near Moshi with a spectacular snowy peak, is a good challenge for those who not only want to enjoy a spectactular view of Africa from the Peak but also have many tales thereafter of the wonderful experience in having conquering the highest mountain in Africa.

Spanning across over fifty Kilometres and with a depth of a hundred metres is the Olduvai Gorge which is a historical canyon that was the discovery site of three species of hominid fossils that date back to as early as over three million years ago. The way Olduvai came up was as a result of a river eroding rock in the area following which layers of volcanic soil were exposed and it here that Dr. Louis and Mary Leakey made the discovery of hominid fossils. Also standing in the Olduvai Gorge is a museum that has many ancient discoveries.

The world's longest and second deepest fresh-water lake is Lake Tanganyika which is also found in Tanzania. This Lake is the main gateway to the Mahale Mountains and Gombe Stream National Parks and it's at the heart of dhow fishing boats- building industry. When you are in Tanzania, don't miss a chance to enjoy the awe-inspiring feeling that comes when you fix your eyes on an expansive body of water like Lake Tanganyika.

Lastly, for the little space assigned this article, you have to visit Zanzibar. It is probably one of Africa's most famous and amazing Islands. It's one of the tropical islands in the Indian Ocean known for its striking beaches and laid-back island culture. Palm trees gently sway in the breeze pointing you to traditional dhow boats that tempt you to explore this mysteriously charming paradise. Zanzibar was built on its fishing and spice trade and this remains the case to date. The strong Arabic influence is not only reflected in its people but in the island architecture particularly in historically significant Stone Town. Zanzibar is the kind of place that doesn't need much talking about because it simply speaks for itself.

Tanzania is truly a perfect example of 'spoilt for choice so' make the wise choice and pin it down as the next destination for you! - 31515

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